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Fire Destroys St. Marys Home

ST. MARYS — A fire destroyed a home on Pershing Drive, just west of St. Marys, Friday morning.

At approximately 3:20 a.m., members of the St. Marys Township Fire Department received a phone call reporting a blaze at 250 Pershing Drive. When firefighters arrived, they found the garage engulfed in flames and the fire had spread into the rest of the residence.

“We had one engine on the scene first and they took initial attack,” St. Marys Township Fire Department Chad Hicks told The Evening Leader. “We also sent a crew in to search for occupants.”

No one was home at the time of the fire. Hicks also called for mutual aid from the St. Marys Fire Department, which sent an engine.

“We are ruling it a total loss,” Hicks said. “We are putting the loss at right around $50,000.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The state fire marshal is assisting in the investigation, which Hicks said is routine in these circumstances.

Icy roads and fog posed some hurdles to firefighters who responded to the scene. Hicks also noted crews had to dig out the fire hydrant upon their arrival.

“Just the nature of freezing temperatures and water creates nothing but a sheet of ice everywhere you walk,” Hicks said.

In general, Hicks also encouraged residents to dig out fire hydrants following periods of heavy snowfall.

“The hydrant is there to protect your property,” Hicks said. “If you dig it out, it speeds up our response.”

According to the Auglaize County Auditor’s website, the property is owned by Shannon J. Rockwood.